Half to edwaed w



2 SheetsSheet 1. T. HAWLEY.

(No Model.)

LAP ROBE.

Patented Dec. 7, 1886.

N. PETERS, Phulul jlhugrlphan Walhlngtfi' DJ).

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

T. HAWLEY.

LAP ROBE.

Patented Dec N. PETERS Phulo-Lflhogmphur, Washinglon, 17,9

NtTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE 'HAWLEY, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- ,HALF TO EDW'ARD IV. HARRAL, OF SAME PLACE.

LAP-ROBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,939, dated December 7, 1886.

.-\ nplicution tiled September 18, 18.86. Serial No. 213,867.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnnononn HAW'LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Reversible Self-Attaching Lap-Robes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to produce alap-rohe for use in driving which shall be reversible, so that either side may be turned outward, and which at the same time shall he self-attaching to the person of the user; in other words, to produce alap-robe which shall be provided with means whereby it may be held closely about the user either at the waist or under the arms and will not slip out of place, and which at the same time may be attached or detached in an instant and without removing either gloves or mittens.

\Vith these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel construction, of which the -followimg description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

Figure l is a perspectiveillustrating my improved la'p-robe in'use; Fig. 2, a perspective of the robe detached, showing the manner in which the spring is held in place; Fig. 3, a perspective Showing the robe reversed; Fig. 4, an elevation of the spring detached, and Fig. 5 is a perspective showing a slightlymodified form of spring.

1 represents a lap-robe, which may or may not be rubber-coated upon one side; 2, a long pocket made transversely of the robe near one end, and 3 a Ushaped spring having its ends preferably curved inward slightly and then recurved outward, which is adapted to slide into said pocket. These springs should be made of a fine grade of steel and of different sizes to accommodate different-sized persons,

although in practice the size and shape of the springs may be changed considerably by springing them. The spring in use shouldbe just sufficiently close to hold the blankettightly to the person of the user without feeling un- (No model.)

comfortable. The robe is attached by drawing the ends of the springoutward, so that the spring will embrace the body, and then allowing it to close in place. It may be placed about the waist or close under the arms, as shown in the drawings.

In making the liner grades of lap-robes I sometimes provide rings 4, the shanks 5 of which pass through the robe and are riveted to the spring. These rings are simply used for. convenience in opening the spring when the robe is placed aboutthe person of the user. They are not, however, of the essence of my invention. The pocket I of course place upon the side of the robe least likely to be used in fine weather, the rings then appearing upon the outside. Vhen the robe has been turned, the pocket will of course appear upon the outer side, as in Fig. 8, the rings then being upon the inner side; or, if preferred, a set of rings may be attached on each side.

The springs are ordinarily made of heavy round wire, and the pockets are made con tinuous. If preferred, however, an oval or a flattened wire may be used, as shown in Fig. 5, and instead of a continuous pocket long enough to hold the spring the latter may be held in place by a series of loops or straps, 6.

It will of course be understood that any special details of construction are not of the essence of my invention, the essential principle being that I provide a lap-robe with a spring, wherebyit is made selfattaching, but may be readilydetached.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- As an improved manufacture, a reversible lap-robe or similar article having at the center near one end a pocket, and a curved and recurved spring shorter than the Width of the robe lying loosely in said pocket, whereby the robe is held closely about the person of the user wherever it may be placed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE HAVVLEY.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR MEEKER, A. M. WoosrER. 

